Christmas spirit: Where is yours?

December 23. 2013 12:40AMThere are two days left until Christmas. It's time to assess how much Christmas spirit you really have.

There is no shame in making your family happy on Christmas morning. Heck, if it were not for Christmas shopping — people willingly buying things for others — many businesses would not survive. Holiday sales account for 19 percent of U.S. retail sales on average, according to the National Retail Federation. Some businesses do as much as 40 percent of their sales over the Christmas holiday.

And yet as nice as all of this is, "Christmas spirit" does not really mean getting inspired to buy toys for your kids, jewelry for your wife, or tools for your husband.

Now is a good time to ask yourself: How much time have I spent helping others this year? How often have I given of myself, asking nothing in return?

The holidays can be overwhelming. So much shopping, so many parties, so much celebrating. It is easy to forget that we are called this time of year to bring good will and cheer to the world, not only to our own circle of friends.

There are two days left until Christmas — time enough to shovel an elderly neighbor's walk, cook for someone who has no family nearby, volunteer at a soup kitchen, donate to a charity. You might find that it warms your spirit more than anything else you have done this year.